SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT AND AS PILOT OF A CARRIER-BASED NAVY DIVE BOMBER OF BOMBING SQUADRON NINETEEN (VB-19), ATTACHED TO THE USS LEXINGTON (CV-16), ASSIGNED TO STRIKE MAJOR JAPANESE FLEET UNITS DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ON 24 OCTOBER 1944. AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS AND THE SILVER STAR WITH ONE GOLD STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND THE AIR MEDAL.